§ Mr. LAMBERTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost to the Exchequer of the administration, civil and military, of Palestine and Iraq for 1922–23; and whether such sums are included in the fighting or Civil Service Estimates?
Mr. YOUNGI would refer the right hon. Member to the Army and Air Estimates and also to Class V Vote of the Estimates for Civil Services, 1922–23. He will see from the latter Vote (Middle East Services) that the cost of the defence of Iraq by the Imperial Forces (British Army, Indian Army and Air Force) is put at £7,372,000, while that of Palestine is £1,724,000. In addition, a grant of £600,000 is made towards the cost of native levies in Mesopotamia and of £300,000 towards the Gendarmerie in2214W Palestine. As regards civil expenditure, Palestine is self-supporting, though a grant of £100,000 is made for the adjacent territory of Transjordania. In Iraq a contribution of £40,000 is made towards the salaries, etc, of the High Commissioner and his personal and political staff, and a grant of £23,000 for the provision and maintenance of their quarters. This year, further, there appears on the Estimates a sum of £70,000, which was required on part of a sum, authorised last year, to place the railways in a proper condition after the War. Apart from these charges, it is hoped that Iraq will be self-supporting; further, that some of the charges will not recur in future years.